Amusement device.



H. N. RKDGWAY.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1918.

1 ,279,91 1. v I Patefited Sept. 24, 1918.

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AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. I. 1915.

1 79, 9 1 1 Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, 0F WINTHRbP, MASSACHUSETTS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, leis.

Application filed March 1. 1918. Serial No. 219,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Winthrop, county of Suifolk, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Amusement Devices, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to amusement devices of the type which includeone or more passenger-carrying cars constructed so that they are free totravel in any direction, and means for giving movement to said cars invarious directions.

In my present invention 1 have provided a relatively large stationaryplatform onto which the cars may be projected and means situated at thecenter of said platform for projecting the cars onto the stationaryplatform. Said stationary platform is preferabl v so constructed thatthe cars which are projected thereonto will gravitate back to theprojecting means after the projecting force has been expended, and thecar-projecting means is so constructed that it will receive the carswhich gravitate back toward it and then will act on the returned cars toproject them onto the stationary platform again. The cars may beprojected 1 onto the stationary platform in any directiou, and theamusement which is derived from the apparatus will result not only fromthe pleasure and excitement of being carried about in the cars, but alsofrom the exhilaration due to the unexpected directions in which the carsmay be projected.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated inthe drawings .a selected embodiment thereof which will i the carsshowing parts thereof in section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing different Ways of flexiblyconnecting the bumper elements;

Fig. 6 is a view showing a difi'erent way of supporting the rotaryplatform from that. shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a view showing one way of constructing the doors for the car.

The passengercarrying cars are indicated at 1 and may have any suitableor usual construction, they being mounted on casters 2 so that they arefree to travel in any direction. The particular construction of the carswill be more fully described herein after. 7

3 indicates a relatively large stationary platform or floor onto whichthe cars 1 may be projected. I will preferably make this stationaryplatform or floor circular in shape, and if desired it may be surroundedby a suitable railing 4 to prevent the cars from being thrown, offtherefrom. Situated at the center of the stationary platform or floor 3is a car-projecting device constructed to throw or project cars 1outwardly onto the stationary platform 3. While any suitablecar-projecting means adapted to thus project the cars may be employed, 1will preferably usea rotating platform 5 which is situated centrally ofthe stationary platform 3 and which has a relatively small diametercompared to that of the platform 3. The stationary platform 3 isprovided with an opening in which the rotating or car-projectingplatform 5 is received and the top surface of the car-projectingplatform forms a continuation of the surface of the, stationaryplatform. The car-project ing platform 5 is rotatably mounted to turnabout its own center or axis, and any suitable means may be provided forrotating The rotary motion of the platform 5 will give movement to anycar 1 which may be thereon and the centrifugal force developed willthrow or project the car 1 outwardly onto the stationary platform 3.

The stationary platform 1s arranged not only to receive the cars thusprojected, but also to cause the cars to gravitate back'to the rotarycar-projecting platform 5 after the projecting force has been expended.One way of providing for this is to make the stationary platform 3 sothat the centralportion immediately circumjacent the rotary platform ison a lower level than the outer or peripheral portion.

In the constructionshown the platform 3 is shaped so'that it inclinesdownwardly toward the rotary platform on all radial lines. The rotarycar-projecting platform 5 is also preferably made somewhat dishmovementtov any car which is supported mg limits the outward movement of the 'atan position on the stationary latform will, if left to itselff gravitateto t e center j of the rotary plat orm. The rotation of the.car-projecting platform '5 will give thereon and will develop sufficientcentrifugal force to throw or project the car out-I wardly onto thestationary platform. As soon as the projecting force has been expended,then the prO ected car will gravitate back onto the car-projectingplatform' 5 again when it will be again thrown out-- wardly onto thestationary platform.

' plurality of rollers 7 which travel on a cir- The rotary orcarrojectin' platform 5 may besup ortedan operate in any suitable way.have herein shown it as rotatng about a central pivot 6, and-in Fig. 1it is provided on its under side with a cular track 8. In Fig. 6 I haveshown a reversal of this construction wherein the car-prmecting platformis provided on its under side with a circular track 9 which rests on androlls over supporting rollers 10 that are mounted in fixed supports 11.

While any suitable means may be provided for'rotating thecar-projectingplatform 5, I have illustrated herein a motor 12 which. is connected toa driving ulley 4.2 around which runs a driving bet 14,

car-' rejecting platform 5. TE

the latter assin around a belt-receiving groove 15 orme on the undersideof the e cars 1 may have an suitable construction, but I will prefera lymake them of circulan shape with the circular seat 16 on which thepassengers may sit, all the passengers thus facing toward the center ofthe car. At the center of the car is a hand-hold 17 in the form of awheel which is rigidly sustained on a post 18. The purpose of thishand-hold is to provide a solid support to which the passengers maycling during their ride.

I propose to use a plurality of cars, in

which case the various cars are liable to bum ea'chcar with "a resilientbuffer which ex tends completely around the car. In the constructionherein shown each buffer is in the form of a (plurality .of blocks 19,each carried b a ro v.20 which extends into and is slidab e through ahousin 21 secured ach housing.

to the underside of the car. 21 is shown as having a uiding collar 22slidably mounted therein t rough which the rod 20 extends, and a cushionspring 24 1s interposed hetweenthe collar 22 and the cushion spring saidcollar and the block 19. The collar 22 the car.

into each other asthey are thrown off rom the car-projecting-platform,or as I ma n; I

inner end of the housing, while another 25 is interposed between servesas a guiding means for the rod, and the two springs act ascushionsprings. The inner end of the rod or stem 20 is provided with acollar 23 which by its engagement with the inner end of thehousdevice'of this nature the passengers in the car will suffer nodisagreeable'jar due to the impact of one car agamst another.

Each car is herein shown as ,prov1ded with a ledge 28 which encircles itabove the bumper and which constitutes a support on which the passengersmay step as they enter the car: The blocks 19 of the bumper apparatusalso provide a ste so that said bumper and the ledge 28 ma e a flight ofsteps surrounding the can to facilitate the passengerse'ntering thesame. i

If desired I may make each car with doors 29 through which persons mayenter In usin the apparatus, the rotating platform 5 wi 1 be brought torest and the various cars will then all gravitate back onto saidplatform 5as near the center thereof as possible. The assengers whodesire to gain amusement rom the apparatus Wlll then be given admissionto the stationary platform and will walk thereoverand enter the waitingcars. After all the passengers who wish to ride are seated in the cars,then the platform 5 will be set in rotation. Qwing to the fact that thecars are provided with casters, the inertia of the cars will preventthemfrom immediately partaking of the rotary movement of the platform 5,but

the cars will gradually acquire, a rotary movement with the platform 5which will develop centrifugal force, and which Wlll tend to throw thecars toward the periphery of the platform 5. Owing to the fact that theplatform 5 is dish-shaped a considerable centrifugal force willhave. tobe developed 1 before the cars will be thrown upwardly to the peripheryof the rotary platform, but as soon as' sufficient centrifugal force hasbeen thus developed, the cars will be .carried off from the platform 5onto the stationary or receiving platform 3" and will travel agreater orless extent toward the periphery ofth e platform' 3, dependent on amenthe amount of centrifugal force with which they are projected from theplatform 5.

When the projectin force with which each car is thrown ofi' rom thecarrojecting platformhas been expended, t en the car will gravitate backtoward. andonto the rotating car-projecting platform again, and

as soon as some of the casters of each car takes will be partly due to.the rotati'onof the platform 5, partly due to the centrifugal actionthereon, partly due to the action of gravity thereon, and partly due tothe impact of the car with other cars. The final result is a most;exhilarating and exciting ride for the passen ers.

The provision o a dish-shaped car-pro jecting platform 5 is importantbecause the" dish shape thereof prevents the cars from being thrown offtherefrom until suflicient centrifugal force has been developed to causethe cars to be carried some distance toward the periphery of thestationary platform 3. It is also important because in order to get thebest effect it is desirable that the cars should start from the centerof the platform 5, and by making the platform with the dish shape shownthe returning cars are subjectedto the action of gravity until theyreach the center of the platform.

While I have illustrated herein some selected embodiments of myinvention, I do not wish to be limitedto the constructional featuresshown.

1.' In an amusement device, the combination with a stationary platform,of a passenger-carrying carlad-apted to travel over on said platform,and means at the center of said said stationary platform."

2. In an amusement device, the combination with a stationary platform,of a passenger carrying car adapted'to travel over on said platform, andmeans at tlie'center of said platform to project said car thereover, thecenter of said platformbeing at a' lower level than theperiphery'thereof' whereby each car will gravitate back to thecar-projecting means after the force with,

- which it was projected has been expended.

3. In an amusement device, the combinaplatform to project said car overriphery towa d the center on all radiating tion with a stationaryplatform, of a pas senger-carrying car adapted to travel over on saidplatform, and means at the center of said platform to project said carthereover, said platform being inclined. downwardiy from the peripherytoward the center whereby the cars which are projected onto thestationary platform will gravitate back toward the projecting meansagain.

4. In an amusement device, the combination with a circular stationaryplatform having a relatively large diameter, of a rotary car-projectingplatform having a relatively small diameter and situated at the centerof the stationary platform, and means to rotate said car-projectingplatform whereby a car on said car-pro ecting platform will be projectedoutwardly onto the stationary platform, the latter being so shaped thatsaid projected cars will gravitate back onto the car-projecting platformafter the projecting force has been expended.

5. In an amusement device, the combina-' tion witha' circular stationaryplatform having a relatively large diameter, 'of a rotary car-projectingplatform of relatively small diameter situated at the center of thestationary platform and having a dish-shaped surface, and means torotate said car-pros jecting platform whereby a car on saidcarprojecting platform will be projected out-.

wardly b, centrifugal force onto the stationary p atform.

l 6. In an amusement device, the combination with a circular stationaryplatform having a relatively large diameter, of a rotary car-projectingplatform of relatively small diameter situated at the center of the stationary platform and having a dish-shaped surface, and means to rotatesaid car-projecting platform whereby a car on sald carprojectingplatform will be pro ected outwardly b centrifugal force onto thestationary atform, the latter being so shaped that said projected carswill gravitate back onto the car-projecting platform after theprojecting force has been expended.

7. In an amusement device, the comb1nation with a circular stationaryplatform having a relatively large diameter, said platformincliningdownwardly from. the pelines, of ayrotary car-projectingplatform of relatively smal diameter situated at the center of thestationary platform and having a dish-shaped surface,'and means torotate said car-projecting platform whereby a car on said car-projectingplatform Wlll be projected outwardly b centrifugal force onto thestationary plat orm.

In testimony wherof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT N. RIDG'WAY.

